Golden State visits Washington after Iriafen's 23-point performance
Washington; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Washington Mystics hosts the Golden State Valkyries after Kiki Iriafen scored 23 points in the Washington Mystics' 91-78 win against the Dallas Wings.
The Mystics are 9-6 on their home court. Washington has a 5-7 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Valkyries are 6-10 on the road. Golden State is 8-12 against opponents over .500.
Washington averages 78.6 points per game, 1.5 more points than the 77.1 Golden State allows. Golden State averages 77.5 points per game, 3.0 fewer than the 80.5 Washington allows to opponents.
The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on July 31 the Valkyries won 68-67 led by 14 points from Kate Martin, while Sonia Citron scored 16 points for the Mystics.
TOP PERFORMERS: Citron is averaging 14.8 points for the Mystics. Iriafen is averaging 13.3 points over the last 10 games.
Temi Fagbenle is averaging 7.6 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Valkyries. Janelle Salaun is averaging 11.2 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mystics: 3-7, averaging 79.1 points, 30.9 rebounds, 20.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.7 points per game.
Valkyries: 6-4, averaging 72.1 points, 34.1 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 5.8 steals and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 39.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.1 points.
INJURIES: Mystics: Georgia Amoore: out for season (acl).
Valkyries: Kayla Thornton: out for season (knee), Monique Billings: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada News.Net
6 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Thomas Muller set to make Vancouver debut vs. Houston
(Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images) Thomas Muller appears raring to go. The 35-year-old German superstar, who arrived mid-week to sign with Vancouver, is set to see his first Major League Soccer action when the Whitecaps (13-6-6, 45 points) play host to the Houston Dynamo (7-11-7, 28 points) on Sunday night. Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen confirmed after practice Friday that Muller will play. 'He will be in the squad and he will be on the pitch. For how long, we're going to find out,' Sorensen said. 'Everyone's excited, everyone wants to go. But we also have to be aware that we have to do the right thing.' Muller, an attacking midfielder/forward, scored 250 goals in all competitions over 18 seasons with Bayern Munich, winning 13 Bundesliga titles, two UEFA Champions League crowns and leading Germany to the 2014 FIFA World Cup title. 'I was always a competitive guy during my whole life, and my love is to play soccer,' Muller said at an introductory news conference Thursday. 'And my body feels, even in (this) stage of my career, too good to retire.' Fans filled Vancouver's airport for his arrival Wednesday and the club's owners, who had previously been looking to sell the franchise, are now looking to take on additional partners and build a new stadium. 'I know that a player with my career coming to Vancouver (is) creating a little bit of a hype,' Muller said. 'And we want to stay on the hype train as long as possible.' The Whitecaps are in second place in the Western Conference, but they're coming off a 2-1 loss last weekend in San Jose in which they conceded the deciding goal in second-half stoppage time. That snapped their three-match unbeaten streak (2-0-1) in league play. The Dynamo rallied for a 2-2 draw last Saturday at Austin as Jack McGlynn tallied twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation. That wasn't enough to snap Houston's seven-match winless streak in all competitions (0-5-2). 'A little bit of the same story with us at the moment,' said Dynamo coach Ben Olsen, whose team is four points out of the Western Conference's final playoff berth. 'Some good performances, some not so good.' The clubs met July 16 in Houston with the Whitecaps winning 3-0 behind goals from Emmanuel Sabbi, Sebastian Berhalter and Brian White.
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Thomas Muller set to make Vancouver Whitecaps debut vs. Houston Dynamo
VANCOUVER – German soccer legend Thomas Muller will step onto the field as a Vancouver Whitecap for the first time this weekend. Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen confirmed after training on Friday that the team's latest acquisition will be on the roster when Vancouver hosts the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. 'He will be in the squad and he will be on the pitch. For how long, we're going to find out,' Soresen said. 'Everyone's excited, everyone wants to go. But we also have to be aware that we have to do the right thing.' Muller, 35, trained with the 'Caps (13-6-6) for the first time on Friday, more than a week after signing with the Major League Soccer club. Rain poured down throughout the session, giving him a true taste of Vancouver. 'There's a good energy in the team. You can feel it on the pitch that the group is together, they enjoy to improve,' Muller said after training. 'Normal group of very good football players enjoying training sessions. Even if the Vancouver weather kicks in today.' The attacking midfielder comes to Vancouver following 17 seasons with Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. He scored 250 goals across all competitions, helping the club to 33 titles, including 13 league championships. Muller has also excelled in international play, winning the 2014 World Cup with Germany and taking home the Golden Boot from the 2010 World Cup after notching five goals and three assists. Having that level of a player in training is 'exciting,' said Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed. 'Someone like him, with his background and experience, he's a serial winner, just knows how to play the game. One of the best to play the game, one of the best clubs in the world,' he said. 'For him to come here to Vancouver, great for the club. And not even the club, but some of the younger players and even more experienced players playing with a player of his profile.' Muller joins a 'Caps team that has hovered near the top of the Major League Soccer standings all year. While the club currently sits second in the Western Conference, injuries have slowly whittled away the starting lineup. Defenders Sam Adekugbe (Achilles) and Ranko Veselinovic (knee) are both out for the rest of the season with injuries, while captain Ryan Gauld continues to recover from the sprain knee cap he suffered back on March 8. Striker Brian White left the first leg of Vancouver's Canadian Championship semifinal series on Wednesday with hamstring tightness. Whether he'll be fit to play on Sunday remains to be seen, Sorensen said. Ahmed could return to the lineup, though, after missing nearly two months with the sprained ankle he suffered while playing for Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 24-year-old Toronto native said he would 'hopefully' play on Sunday. The Whitecaps are coming off a 2-2 draw against Canadian Premier League side Forge FC in Canadian Championship play on Wednesday. The Dynamo (7-11-7) haven't played since last Saturday when they fought their way back to earn a 2-2 draw against Austin FC. With just nine games to go in their regular-season schedule, though, Houston remains four points below the playoff bar. The Whitecaps expect the Dynamo to come in hungry and motivated, Ahmed said. 'They're a good team. They're fighting to get into the playoffs this year,' he said. 'We know it won't be an easy game. We know everything surrounding that game. But I think we're all still very much locked in on winning and picking up three points.' HOUSTON DYNAMO (7-11-7) AT VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-6-6) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Sunday, B.C. Place HISTORY BOOKS: The Whitecaps hold an 11-9-6 in all-time meetings with the Dynamo. The most recent matchup saw Vancouver take a 3-0 victory in Houston back on July 16. NEW DIGITS: Vancouver midfielder Ralph Priso will be sporting a new number on Sunday. The Canadian gave up his No. 13 to Muller and will instead wear No. 6. To thank him, Muller gifted Priso some traditional Bavarian lederhosen. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Playing at B.C. Place has been a strength for the 'Caps this season. Vancouver is 7-2-2 at home and already has more home wins than all of last season (6-7-4). This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Canada News.Net
10 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Atlanta United looking to solve road woes at Colorado
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) Atlanta United haven't won on the road this season, leaving the club well on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff mix. Atlanta will hope that the 13th time is the charm as the club goes into battle against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night at Commerce City, Colo. Atlanta (4-11-10, 22 points) is 0-7-5 on enemy soil and 14 points below the playoff line entering the team's last nine matches. Forward Miguel Almiron knows the odds of a postseason berth are slim, but he wants to see the entire team make a push down the stretch. 'We have to have ambition,' Almiron said through an interpreter after Thursday's practice. 'We're playing (for) Atlanta; it's a big club. Everyone on the team has to have the ambition that we want to fight for the playoffs. ... Mathematically, we're not eliminated yet, so there's still a chance.' Atlanta badly needs to get three points against the Rapids, as it hasn't prevailed since a 3-2 home win over Orlando City on May 28. The Five Stripes are just 0-4-5 in their last nine matches after last week's 1-1 road draw with CF Montreal. The Rapids (9-11-6, 33 points) are in eighth place in the West, one point behind Austin FC, one ahead of the San Jose Earthquakes and two in front of Real Salt Lake. Colorado is 2-1-1 over its last four matches after producing a 2-1 road win over Minnesota United last week. The victory came just days after the Rapids traded star midfielder Djordje Mihailovic (nine goals, seven assists) to Toronto FC for $8 million, plus potentially up to another $1 million in performance-based metrics. The move opened the door for Darren Yapi to take a bigger role. The 20-year-old midfielder responded with a brace against Minnesota. Yapi scored on a solid right-footed shot in the 60th minute and added a right-footer into the left corner of the net 10 minutes later to give Colorado a 2-0 lead. Yapi has six goals and two assists in 22 matches (13 starts) this season. 'Every time I start or even come off the bench, I ask myself the same question, which is, 'How can I help the team?'' Yapi said after the 2-1 victory. 'How can I help the team win? 'In any way, whether it's defensively or offensively, just finding ways I can help the team is huge for me. It's huge for the team, and it showed (Sunday night).' Atlanta has won four of the five all-time meetings with Colorado. In the most recent clash, the Five Stripes rolled to a 4-0 home victory May 17, 2023.
